Clips



United States Patent 3,251,438 curs William A. Redford, Jr., Littleton, Colo., assignor, by I mesne assignments, to Samsonite Corporation, Denver,

Colo., a corporation of Colorado Filed June 15, 1964, Ser. No. 374,994 11 Claims. (Cl. 190-54) 'are adapted to fit together with the sections closed. Such a shell is usually attached to a metal frame within a groove formed between an outer flange and a normally wider inner flange. The frames are ofiten formed of light weight material, such as aluminum or magnesium alloy, and may be formed from cast sections, from extruded strips bent to the desired shape, from strips rolled or otherwise formed to provide the desired groove and flanges, or in any other suitable manner. The inner flange provides a place for attachment, as by rivets, of hinges, hardware and inside appointments, while the outer flange provides a protective covering for the edge of the shell.

' The shell, of course, covers rivet-s extending only through the inner flange and the shell may be attached by rivets to the outer flange, but such rivets appear on the out side of the luggage case, thus detracting considerably from its appearance. I A suitable adhesive may be used to adhere the edge of the shell to the groove of the frame, but the adhesive may crack or it may not hold, so that the frame can pull away from the shell. Thus, there has been a long-felt need for a clip which will attach the shell to the frame, yet will be hidden from sight. The clips of this invention are adapted to be utilized in a luggage case constructed as disclosed in the copendin'g application of Emmett H. Heitler, Willard G. Axtell, Robert K. Fujiok-a and Roger D. Winter, Serial No. 289,187, filed June 20, 1963, although such clips are adapted to be utilized in numerous other types of luggage case constructions.

Among the objects of 'this invention are to provide a novel clip, particularly adapted to hold the shell of a luggage case in the groove of a peripheral metallic frame; to provide such a clip which will hold such a shell with sufficient force so as to eliminate the need for adhesive,

rivets or the like; to provide such a clip which is simple in construction, yet highly efficient in operation; to provide such a clip which will positively engage both the frame and the edge of the luggage case shell; to provide such "a clip which is hidden from view within the frame; to provide such a clip which will resist the forces tending to separate the shell and the frame; and to provide such a clip which is economical to manufacture.

Additionalobjects and the novel features will become apparent from the description which follows, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an enlarged, fragmentary, transverse section, taken at an edge of one section of a luggage case, showing the frame, a portion of the shell and a clip of this invention which engages a slot in the shell to secure the shell I to the frame;

ice

FIG. 4 is-tan enlarged side elevation of the clip of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a transverse section, taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a rear elevation of the clip of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary top plan view of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary section through the clip and a portion of an alternative frame having a groove which receives the end of the clip.

In accordance with this invention, a series of clips C are installed in spaced positions around the edge of a luggage case shell S of FIG. 1, the shell S and a frame F forming the principal parts of one half or section of the luggage case. The edge of the shell is received in a groove formed in frame F between a web 10, an outer flange 11 and and a wider inner flange 12, as in FIG. 1. The number of clips utilized, such as two or more clips on each of the top, bottom and end edges of the shell, Will depend primarily upon the size of the case. It will be understood, of course, that where rivets or the like are utilized for attaching hardware to the case section, such as the hinges, drawbolts or latches, handle or the like, clips at the positions or such rivets may be unnecessary. Thus, the number of 'clips may be reduced along the bottom edges of the case sections, Where the hinges are attached, as well as along the top edges of the case sections, where the handle and drawbolts are attached.

The clip C of this invention, as in FIGS. 3-6, is

5 formed of a relatively thin metal, such as S.A.E. 1050 steel, which is readily bent beyond its elastic limit, yet preferably having a hardness greater than that of at least the shell. Clip C is generally J-shaped, having a base 13 whose width is less than the width of the inner flange 12 of frame F and has a depending angular lip 14, for a purpose to be described. The clip also includes an arcuate front end 15 which connects base 13 with a top 16 having a width less than the outer flange 1 1 of frame F, so that top 16 will be hidden from view after installation. The anguliarity between base 13 and top 16, on the order of 15 to 25, is such that the clip may be readily placed on the edge of shell S, despite any variation in the thickness of the shell. The rear edge of top 16 is provided with a series of serrations 17 which are adapted to dig into shell S when the clip is pressed or clamped against the edge of the shell, as by a pair of pliers, a press or other special tool (not shown), so that top 16 engages the top surface of shell S and base 13 engages the bottom surface of the shell, as in FIG. 2. Conveniently, serrations 1'7 extend approximately three-fourths the distance through the shell when they are dug in but the spacing between the serrations eliminates any danger of the shell being sufficiently weakened so as to crack or break where a clip is attached. Advantageously, the clip is made of metal having sufficient ductility that, upon being squeezed against the shell, it will retain its shape. The edge serrations 17 may have a configuration corresponding to that formed by forcing a series of rods or'other round members, angularly against the edge of top 16, i.e. to produce a series of spaced, arcuate, toothed members providing rigidity and ability'to penetrate the shell. As will be evident, the channel of frame F will maintain the clip in closed position in the shell and thereby maintain the edge serrations 17 in engagement with the shell.

For manufacturing purposes, the clips C are conveniently made in a inult-i-slide punch press, in which suitalbly shaped tiles are used, by which the clips are formed in end to end relation by feeding a metal strip longitudinally therein to. Thus, each clip is severed (from the strip and formed to shape, then ejected. An advantage of forming the clips longitudinally is that, if cold rolled strip is used, the grain of the metal extends longitudinally around the arcuate front end 15, and is thereby less liable to transverse cracks when bent through 180 on final installation. If desired, the clips may be made in a dieing machine, into which is fed a strip of metal, from which the clips are formed, as in side by side relation. Thus, each clip may first be .severed from the strip, except for lip 14, by one edge of which the clip being formed remains attached to the strip for feeding through the machine. At the same time that the clip is partially severed from the strip, the serrations 17 may be formed in the edge opposite lip 14, the section from which the clip is to be made still being flat. The strip may then be moved so that the clip being formed will be in position for the second step, in which the top 16 is bent so as to be at approximately right angles to the base 13, which is still aligned with lip 14, then the strip moved so that the clip being formed is in position for the third step, in which the base 16 is bent further to form the arcuate front end 15, it being noted that in this step and the previous step, it is unnecessary to support or engage serrations 17. Then the strip is moved so that the clip being formed is in position for the fourth and final step, in which base 13 is bent to the desired angle to lip 14 and the edge of the latter is severed from the strip. As will be evident, when one strip is in position for the fourth step, the next clip to be formed is in position for the third step, and so on, so that the successive steps performed on the strip will form completed clips in turn, with the strip moved in increments to place successive portions of the strip in position for the successive steps. As will also be evident, the above steps may be varied, as by first forming the serrations 17, then severing the clip, except lip 14, from the strip and simultaneously forming the angle between lip 14 and base 13, then bending top 16, as in two steps, and finally severing the completed clip from the strip at the edge of lip 14.

As indicated above, the clip may be placed over the edge of the shell and compressed, causing serrations 17 to dig into shell S, thereby preventing the shell from slipping out of the clip. By initially having the clip bent to the shape shown in FIG. 4, it will accommodate the edge of the shell even through there is some variation in the thickness thereof. In order to prevent the clip from slipping out of the frame,'the frame F is preferably provided with a laterally extending slot 18, in the inner flange 12, into which lip 14 of clip C will extend when the shell is fully inserted into the groove in frame F. Thus, as the shell is inserted in the frame, when lip 14 reaches slot 18, it will spring down into the slot and thus will prevent the clip from being pulled out of the frame. As shown in FIG. 7, the slot 18 is wide enough to allow a slight movement of the shell relative to the frame, primarily to accommodate manufacturing tolerances, but it is apparent that it cannot move outwardly enough so that the outer flange 16 of the clip will be visible. Also, as in FIG. 7, the length of slot 18 is preferably greater than the length of clip C, to accommodate manufacturing tolerances and assembly positioning. Obviously, a slot 18 will be provided at each position around frame P where a clip is to be used. These slots may be covered on the inside by the lining for the luggage case, while the shell conceals them from the other side. As will be evident, the 'frame F may be any type of channel having inner and outer flanges, while the width and length of the clip may be varied considerably, limited only by the widths of the frame flanges.

Alternatively, a groove 19 may be provided in the frame, rather than a slot, as in FIG. 8, to receive lip 14. Thus, the frame may be formed by extruding and the groove [formed therein by the same process. Also, if desired, flange 14 may be divided into a plurality of laterally spaced fingers of varying length, so that at least some of them will engage the slot or groove in the frame despite any variation in the depth of the frame or any variation in the edge of the sh ll- 11; addition, such an arrangement assures that there will be little or no play between the ends of the flange portions within the grooves and the edges of the slots or groove.

From the foregoing, it will be evident that the objects and requirements of this invention, hereinbefore set forth, have been fulfilled to a marked degree. Clip C is of simple construction, yet highly efficient in operation, in that lip 14 prevents the clip from pulling out of the frame, while serrated edges 17 prevent the shell from being pulled out of the clip. Thus, the shell .is firmly held in place in the frame. The clip is easy to use, since it is readily pushed onto the edge of the shell and clamped thereon and a shell with a series of clips thereon also is readily pushed into a frame groove. The clip may be completely hidden from view, after installation, since the base of the clip is shorter than the width of the inner flange of the frame and the outer flange of the clip is narrower than the outer flange of the frame. The clip is economical to manufacture, since it can readily be stamped from a piece of sheet metal, such as mild steel, and bent to the appropriate shape.

Although a preferred form of this invention has been illustrated and described, it will be understood that various changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A clip, adapted to secure a shell of a luggage case in a groove of a frame, including:

a base;

a front end extending upwardly from said base, adapted to encompass the edge of said shell and having a rearwardly extending flange;

means on said rearwardly extending flange for engaging said shell to retard said shell from sliding out of said clip; and

a depending, downwardly extending lip on said base for engaging said frame to retard said clip from slipping out of said frame.

2. A clip, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for engaging said shell includes a serrated edge of said rearwardly extending flange.

3. A clip, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said serrated edge comprises a series of spaced, generally arcuate, toothed members providing rigidity and ability to penetrate said shell.

4. A clip, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said groove of said frame is formed between the inner flange and an outer flange; and

said front end and rearwardly extending flange of said clip are proportioned so as to be hidden by said outer flange of said frame.

5. The combination of:

a luggage case shell;

a plurality of clips fixed along the peripheral edge of said shell; and

a frame providing a channel having inner and outer flanges receiving the edge of said shell and said clips;

said clips being angular and each including:

a generally flat base received between said frame and said shell and having an upturned end encompassing the edge of said shell and provided with a rearwardly extending flange;

means on said rearwardly extending flange engaging said shell to prevent said shell from slipping out of said clip; and

a lip extending downwardly from said base engaging the inner flange of said channel to prevent said clip from slipping out of said channel.

6. The combination defined in claim 5, wherein said means engaging said shell comprises a serrated edge at the end of said rearwardly extending flange extending into said shell. and held in position by said channel.

7. A clip, as set forth in claim 6, wherein said serrated edge comprises a series of spaced, generally arcuate,

toothed members providing rigidity and ability to penetrate said shell.

8. The combination defined in claim 5, wherein said channel is provided with a lateral slot in said inner flange adapted to receive said lip extending from said base.

9. The combination defined in claim 5, wherein said channel is provided with a lateral groove in said inner flange adapted to receive said lip extending from said base.

10. The combination defined in claim 5, wherein said front end and said rearwardly extending flange of each said clip are proportioned so as to be hidden by said outer flange of said frame.

11. The combination defined in claim 5, wherein said inner flange is provided with means for receiving said lip of sad base.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 851,421 4/1907 Hiering et a1. 19049 X 2,970,631 2/1961 Wilson et a1. 15029 FOREIGN PATENTS 531,401 1/1941 Great Britain.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner. I V. A. TOMPSON, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A CLIP, ADAPTED TO SECURE A SHELL OF A LUGGAGE CASE IN A GROOVE OF A FRAME, INCLUDING: A BASE; A FRONT END EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID BASE, ADAPTED TO ENCOMPASS THE EDGE OF SAID SHELL AND HAVING A REARWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGE; MEANS ON SAID REARWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGE FOR ENGAGING SAID SHELL TO RETARD SAID SHELL FROM SLIDING OUT OF SAID CLIP; AND A DEPENDING, DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING LIP ON SAID BASE FOR ENGAGING SAID FRAME TO REGARD SAID CLIP FORM SLIPPING OUT OF SAID FRAME. 